Improvement in vaginal syringes



- R. H. WOODWARD. VAGINAL-SYRINGES.

No. 195,868. Patented 0ct.2,l877

ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS, PBOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHXNGTON. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT H. WOODWARD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT lN VAGINAL SYRINGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No, 195,868, dated October2, 1877; application filed March 29, 1877.

being attached directly to the nozzle without.

an intervening or connecting flexible tube. In some cases the nozzle ortube of such syringes has been constructed with its outer end fullyopen, to facilitate the withdrawal of liquid that has been injectedas,for instance, in the local treatment (by astringents, &c.) ofmenorrhagia or prolapsus uteri, where it is essential that the patientshall be kept in a recumbent position. Syringes of this sub class haveproven defective or inefficient in operation, mainly because no meanshave been provided for supplying air to take the place, to a greater orless extent, of the liquid, when being removed from the vagina.

The object of myinvention is to remedy this defect and to this end Iprovide an air-tube attachment, in the manner represented in theaccompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, which shows alongitudinal central section of a vaginal bulb-syringe having suchattachment.

The elastic compressible bulb A has the ordinary shape, but I prefer tomake its walls thicker than usual heretofore, in order that it may haveincreased strength and power of expansion.

The bulb is attached directly to a nozzle or vaginal tube, B, having aseries of divergent but concentrically-arranged holes, a, in its outerend, through which the liquid used in treatment is alternately ejectedand withdrawn.

An elastic air-supply tube, 0, extends from the outer end of the vaginaltube B to the larger end of the bulb A, to each of which its ends arerespectively secured in suitable manner.

In using the syringe the bulb A is first compressed in the hand, and theend of the tube B inserted in the liquid to be injected, and beingrelieved of compression, the bulb at once expands and becomes filledwith the liquid. The tube B being then inserted in the vagina, the bulbis compressed to expel the liquid and cause its injection through theholes a, in contact with the 0s and walls of the vagina. Upon releasingthe bulb from compression, the'liquid will be forced back into it by theaction of atmospheric pressure, the air passing through the small tube 0and entering the vagina, so that the withdrawal of the liquid iseffected rapidly and completely-a result hitherto unattainable with thepreviously-known forms of bulb-syringes.

It is usually desirable the liquid shall remain for a few moments incontact with the parts to be treated, and in such case a few drops mayescape from the outer or bulb end of the air-tube C. The same result mayalso take place when the liquid is reinjected and withdrawn one or moretimes, which it is sometimes desirable to do. To prevent the liquidwhich thus escapes from tube 0 falling upon and thereby soiling the bedor other clothing, I provide a small drip bulb or holder, D, which is ofspherical shape and attached to the bulb A, so as to form practicallyboth a continuation of said air-tube and the enlarged end or terminationthereof. That portion of the liquid which would therefore drip from theair-tube O is received by holder D, and retained until the instrumentcan be removed and its contents conveniently discharged. To facilitatedischarge of the liquid from the drip-bulb D, I provide it with a smallaperture on the upper side, at d, as shown.

' What I claim is 1. The combination of an air-conducting tube with thetube B and the compressible bulb of avaginal syringe, substantially asand for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the drip-bulb D with the air-tube C, bulb A, andvaginal tube B, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ROBERT H. WOODWARD.

Witnesses Auos W. HART, SoLoN O. KEMoN.

